The Super 14 coaches are to blame for the slow rate of transformation at the highest level, says Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.

De Villiers told the Cape Times he picked Morgan Newman and Earl Rose for his initial Bok training squad because he has faith in their ability. That Newman has only played off the bench in a handful of Stormers’ games and that Rose has been moved around the Lions’ backline is an indictment on the respective coaches.

According to De Villiers, these players are good enough to be starting.

‘Earl struggled this season because he never gets a fair opportunity,’ said De Villiers. ‘I don’t think the unions help me at this stage when it comes to transformation. The Lions played just one black player per game, and if you look at the Stormers, they ended with two black players at the end of the season.

‘So you can see how they are not helping me. If no one wants to help me, then I must help myself.’

De Villiers has a case when he talks about the Lions, but the Stormers have been hit by injuries to players both black and white. Conrad Janjtes, Brian Mujati, Tonderai Chavhanga and Gcobani Bobo have all had to spend time on the sideline for various ailments. And in the case of Ricky Januarie, the scrumhalf was struggling for form.